An Investigation of the Aerodynamic and Vibration Behavior of a Helicopter Rotor Blade

Abstract Rotary-wing aircrafts are the best-suited option in many cases for its vertical take-off and landing capacity, especially in any congested area, where a fixed-wing aircraft cannot perform. Rotor aerodynamic loading is the major reason behind helicopter vibration, therefore, determining the aerodynamic loadings are important. Coupling among aerodynamics and structural dynamics is involved in rotor blade design where the unsteady aerodynamic analysis is also imperative. In this study, a Bo 105 helicopter rotor blade is considered for computational aerodynamic analysis. A fluid-structure interaction model of the rotor blade with surrounding air is considered where the finite element model of the blade is coupled with the computational fluid dynamics model of the surrounding air. Aerodynamic coefficients, velocity profiles, and pressure profiles are analyzed from the fluid-structure interaction model. The resonance frequencies and mode shapes are also obtained by the computational method. A small-scale model of the rotor blade is manufactured, and experimental analysis of similar contemplation is conducted for the validation of the numerical results. Wind tunnel and vibration testing arrangements are used for the experimental validation of the aerodynamic and vibration characteristics by the small-scale rotor blade. The computational results show that the aerodynamic properties of the rotor blade vary with the change of angle of attack and natural frequency changes with mode number.